Nyx had already been to hell. One prayer more or less wouldn't make any difference...On a ravaged, contaminated world, a centuries-old holy war rages, fought by a bloody mix of mercenaries, magicians, and conscripted soldiers. Though the origins of the war are shady and complex, there's one thing everybody agrees on - there's not a chance in hell of ending it.

Infidel: Bel Dame Apocrypha, Book 2

Nyx used to be a bel dame, a government-funded assassin with a talent for cutting off heads for cash. Now she's babysitting diplomats to make ends meet and longing for the days when killing was a lot more honorable. When Nyx's former bel dame "sisters" lead a coup against the government that threatens to plunge the country into civil war, Nyx is tasked with bringing them in. The hunt takes Nyx and her inglorious team of mercenaries to one of the richest, most peaceful, and most contaminated places on the planet - a country wholly unprepared to host a battle waged by the world's deadliest assassins.

Rapture: Book Three of the Bel Dame Apocrypha

After years in exile, Nyxnissa so Dasheem is once more a bel dame, part of a sisterhood of elite government assassins trained to a cut a target’s head off without remorse. But the end of a centuries-long war has thrown her native land of Nasheen into turmoil. A huge influx of unemployed and unemployable young soldiers have brought Nasheen to the brink of civil war, even as an alien spaceship stations itself in orbit above the capital.

The Mirror Empire: Worldbreaker Saga

On the eve of a recurring catastrophic event known to extinguish nations and reshape continents, a troubled orphan evades death and slavery to uncover her own bloody past - while a world goes to war with itself. In the frozen kingdom of Saiduan, invaders from another realm are decimating whole cities, leaving behind nothing but ash and ruin.

Karen Memory

Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, lives in Rapid City in the late 19th century - when airships plied the trade routes bringing would-be miners heading up to the gold fields of Alaska, and steam-powered mechanicals stalked the waterfront. Karen is a "soiled dove", a young woman on her own who is making the best of her orphaned state by working in Madame Damnable's high-quality bordello.

Uprooted

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for 10 years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

Ancillary Justice

On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Breq is both more than she seems and less than she was. Years ago, she was the Justice of Toren - a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of corpse soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy. An act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with only one fragile human body.

Three Parts Dead

A god has died, and it’s up to Tara, a first-year associate in the international necromantic firm of Kelethras, Albrecht, and Ao, to bring him back to life before his city falls apart. Her client is Kos, recently deceased fire god of the city of Alt Coulumb. Without him, the metropolis’ steam generators will shut down, its trains will cease running, and its four million citizens will riot. Tara’s job: resurrect Kos before chaos sets in.

The Vagrant

The Vagrant is his name. He has no other. Years have passed since humanity's destruction emerged from the Breach. Friendless and alone he walks across a desolate, war-torn landscape. A s each day passes the world tumbles further into depravity, bent and twisted by the new order, corrupted by the Usurper, the enemy, and his infernal horde. His purpose is to reach the Shining City, last bastion of the human race, and deliver the only weapon that may make a difference in the ongoing war.

Blood Oranges: A Siobhan Quinn Novel

My name's Quinn. If you buy into my reputation, I'm the most notorious demon hunter in New England. But rumors of my badassery have been slightly exaggerated. Instead of having kung-fu skills and a closet full of medieval weapons, I'm an ex-junkie with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time. Or the right place at the wrong time. Or…whatever. Wanted for crimes against inhumanity I (mostly) didn't commit, I was nearly a midnight snack for a werewolf until I was "saved" by a vampire calling itself the Bride of Quiet.

Honor's Knight: Paradox Series, Book 2

Devi Morris has a lot of problems, and not the fun, easy-to-shoot kind either. After a mysterious attack left her short several memories and one partner, she'd determined to keep her head down, do her job, and get on with her life. But even though Devi's not actually looking for it this time, trouble keeps finding her. She sees ghostly creatures no one else can, the inexplicable black stain on her hands keeps getting bigger, and she can't seem to stop getting into compromising situations with a man she's supposed to hate.

Ancillary Sword

With a new ship and a troublesome crew, Breq is ordered to go to the only place in the galaxy she would a agree to go: to Athoek Station to protect the family of a lieutenant she once knew - a lieutenant she murdered in cold blood.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: Inheritance Trilogy, Book 1

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle.

The City Stained Red

Step up to the gates. After years in the wilds, Lenk and his companions have come to the city that serves as the world's beating heart. The great charnel house where men die surer than any wilderness. They've come to claim payment for creatures slain, blood spilled at the behest of a powerful holy man. And Lenk has come to lay down his sword for good. But this is no place to escape demons.

The Killing Moon: Dreamblood, Book 1

In the ancient city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Upon its rooftops and amongst the shadows of its cobbled streets wait the Gatherers - the keepers of this peace. Priests of the dream-goddess, their duty is to harvest the magic of the sleeping mind and use it to heal, soothe . . . and kill those judged corrupt. But when a conspiracy blooms within Gujaareh's great temple, Ehiru - the most famous of the city's Gatherers - must question everything he knows.

Shield and Crocus

The city of Audec-Hal sits among the bones of a Titan. For decades it has suffered under the dominance of five tyrants, all with their own agendas. Their infighting is nothing, though, compared to the mysterious "Spark-storms" that alternate between razing the land and bestowing the citizens with wild, unpredictable abilities.

The Family Trade

Miriam Beckstein is happy in her life as a successful reporter. When she gets iron-clad evidence of a money-laundering scheme, Miriam thinks she's found the story of the year. But when she takes it to her editor, she's fired on the spot and gets a death threat from the criminals she's uncovered. Before the day is over, she's received a locket left by the mother she never knew - the mother who was murdered when she was an infant. The knotwork pattern within has a hypnotic effect on her.

Midnight Robber

It's Carnival time and the Caribbean-colonized planet of Toussaint is celebrating with music, dance, and pageantry. Masked "Midnight Robbers" waylay revelers with brandished weapons and spellbinding words. To young Tan-Tan, the Robber Queen is simply a favorite costume to wear at the festival - until her power-corrupted father commits an unforgiveable crime. Suddenly, both father and daughter are thrust into the brutal world of New Half-Way Tree....

Fluency

NASA discovered the alien ship lurking in the asteroid belt in the 1960's. They kept the Target under intense surveillance for decades, letting the public believe they were exploring the solar system, while they worked feverishly to refine the technology needed to reach it. Dr. Jane Holloway is content documenting nearly-extinct languages and had never contemplated becoming an astronaut. But when NASA recruits her to join a team of military scientists for an expedition to the Target, it's an adventure she can't refuse.

Authority: Southern Reach Trilogy, Book 2

For 30 years, a secret agency called the Southern Reach has monitored expeditions into Area X - a remote and lush terrain mysteriously sequestered from civilization. After the 12th expedition, the Southern Reach is in disarray, and John Rodriguez (a.k.a. "Control") is the team's newly appointed head. From a series of interrogations, a cache of hidden notes, and more than two hundred hours of profoundly troubling video footage, the secrets of Area X begin to reveal themselves - and what they expose pushes Control to confront disturbing truths about both himself and the agency he's promised to serve.

The Shadowed Sun: Dreamblood, Book 2

Gujaareh, the city of dreams, suffers under the imperial rule of the Kisuati Protectorate. A city where the only law was peace now knows violence and oppression. And nightmares. A mysterious and deadly plague haunts the citizens of Gujaareh, dooming the infected to die screaming in their sleep. Trapped between dark dreams and cruel overlords, the people yearn to rise up - but Gujaareh has known peace for too long. Someone must show them the way. Hope lies with two outcasts.

A Betrayal in Winter: Long Price Quartet Series, Book 2

As a boy, Otah Machi was exiled from his family, Machi's ruling house. Decades later, he has witnessed and been part of world-changing events. Yet he has never returned to Machi. Now his father - the Khai, or ruler, of Machi - is dying, and his eldest brother, Biitrah, has been assassinated, Otah realizes that he must return to Machi for reasons not even he understands.

House Immortal: House Immortal, Book 1

Matilda Case isn't like most folks. In fact, she's unique in the world, the crowning achievement of her father's experiments - a girl pieced together from bits. Or so she believes. That is, until Abraham Seventh shows up at her door, stitched with life thread just like her and insisting that enemies are coming to kill them all. Tilly is one of thirteen incredible creations known as the galvanized, stitched together beings who are immortal and unfathomably strong.

Unbreakable: A Novel

The colonists of the planet Montana are accustomed to being ignored. Situated in the buffer zone between two rival human empires, their world is a backwater: remote, provincial, independently minded. Even as a provisional member of the Republic of Aligned Worlds, Montana merits little consideration - until it becomes the flashpoint in an impending interstellar war. When pirate raids threaten to destabilize the region, the RAW deploys its mechanized armored infantry to deal with the situation.

Audible Editor Reviews

The first book in Kameron Hurley's Bel Dame Apocrypha series is set in a future world ravaged by holy war, and former assassin Nyx is called back into duty by her government to help end the conflict. Hurley builds a fascinating atmosphere with a remarkable attention to detail, as well as an intriguing heroine who is brought to life by Emily Bauer's tough, engaging performance. Bauer is convincing in portraying Nyx's intelligence and fortitude, making God's War an intriguing sci-fi fantasy that entertainingly tackles aspects of gender, war, and religion.

Publisher's Summary

Nyx had already been to hell. One prayer more or less wouldn't make any difference...

On a ravaged, contaminated world, a centuries-old holy war rages, fought by a bloody mix of mercenaries, magicians, and conscripted soldiers. Though the origins of the war are shady and complex, there's one thing everybody agrees on - there's not a chance in hell of ending it.

Nyx is a former government assassin who makes a living cutting off heads for cash. But when a dubious deal between her government and an alien gene pirate goes bad, Nyx's ugly past makes her the top pick for a covert recovery. The head they want her to bring home could end the war--but at what price? The world is about to find out.

This is one of those rare sci-fi novels that uses the genre to explore our own culture and assumptions by turning them on their head in a far-flung fictional world. The true beauty and success of the narrative is that the book does this without becoming preachy.

This is not a simple book. It explores questions of gender, religion, morality, violence, war, bio-engineering and what it means to be human. The protagonist is an anti-hero... complex, morally ambiguous, someone who I could believe as a scarred war veteran.

You should read this book and appreciate it for the nuanced examination of social structures, belief and the affect of war on the human psyche. Or, you could simply read it for the action, the pacing, the unique sci-fi world building and the interesting story.

The narrative and the narration flow so well together that I didn't experience any of that disconnect you sometimes feel in an audiobook.

I like Jack Reacher style characters regardless of setting. Put them in outer space, in modern America, in a military setting, on an alien planet... no worries. Book has non moralistic vigilante-justice? Sign me up!
(oh, I read urban fantasy, soft and hard sci-fi, trashy vampire and zombie novels too)

Firstly, the world is completely foreign. Not only because it is an alien world (actually, we are never told if the inhabitants are even human - or originally from earth), but because the world is based on some interpretation/manipulation of Islam.

The war, the 'sides' in the war, the response to off-worlders, the gender roles, the power of rule... actually, everything... came from a distinctly non-Western perspective. And I don't mean that it was just the 'bad' guys, or the 'other' guys who were non-Western - everything was. That, and it is a world where biology/ecology - and bio/eco-warfare - has been taken to an almost incomprehensible level. Yes, this warfare was still believable, just very extreme.

I did not try to learn the 'rules' of this world at the start of the book, but just accepted them as they came, and by the end of the novel it all made sense. Sure, the first time I heard the description of their 'cars' I was completely baffled, but as time passed, it made more sense. And by about halfway through, I was comfortable with how the world is so different, and why. There are genetic deviations that are very sci-fi in nature, but it is a sci-fi book, so it was easy enough to suspend disbelief and go along with them.

Was there a plot? Yes, but it got hidden under the novelty of the world-building just a bit too much. And sometimes the characters were difficult to keep straight (there are a lot of them )... I am not sure if it was because of their names, or because there were just too many factions in play.

Anyway, it was interesting, depressing and dark. The narration is fine (don't know why others complained, the narration is clear and distinct). It is violent, but not gory, there is foul language but no sex. I will be reading more in the series.

Here's two things you should probably know before you purchase this book:

Kameron Hurley is a Feminist, capital F, the kind that doesn't want women to be men with breasts. She's the type of person interested in what makes societies what they are, and who puts all of the negativity of strict gender roles into this book, unflinching.

She was very into Middle Eastern religion when she wrote this trilogy, and spent six years beforehand researching war.

Still with me? Good. Kameron Hurley doesn't pull punches. She's interested in writing real people who have real consequences from their actions. If you want a kickass assassin hero who retains the high road after witnessing or being part of bloodshed, or whose sense of honor keeps her above the nitty gritty, who can go live happily ever after when all is said and done: this is the wrong story for you.

If however you're into a fantastically crafted world that sticks your nose down into the blood and gore and tells you to look at it, whose characters are a product of that bloody world, and has a story that continually pounds the characters into the ground? If you want a world that is vast, well thought out (and is continually developed into the next two books), that has BUG TECH and huge sociological and gender equality (no, not just women being oppressed -- in Nasheen it's the men who are most outwardly oppressed) issues due to an unending war? Yeah, this one's for you.

That said, it isn't perfect. It gets slow in some parts and some things don't quite fit together. The plotting wasn't as tight as it could have been, and some of the pacing will feel rushed. A lot of real world parallels can be drawn, and some may find that offensive. The characters aren't nice, and you might find yourself wishing there was a little more give in them. This is the type of book that, if you get invested enough into it, will make you hurt. But, maybe that's a plus. I don't know. What I do know is that despite its flaws, despite the unflinching way it rubs your nose in the dirt, I loved it.

Now, the narrator. I know that some people have complained about her voice because it is naturally on the high side, but after listening to all three books I would honestly not have anyone else. Her ability to put gravel into her voice, to make it sound rough and old and worn out, to put nuances into the characters and the slightest bit of accents: no complaints. I think she was a dang good choice for the role. I know who is speaking almost all of the time without needing to put a name to it, and the way she paces herself and puts emphasis on certain things made the story come to life. Great narrator.

So! Bottom line: If you want a strong female main character whose brutality, mental damage due to said brutality, whose relationship with the other narrating characters is more conflict than not, and whose resolve pushes the story along in a wave of violence: this is a good story for you.

I had this book in my wish list for months before I finally bought it, and I'm sorry I dithered for so long. It's one of the most innovative books I've ever read, from science fiction or any other genre. The lack of exposition was confusing at times, especially given how different the setting is from most science fiction or fantasy novels, but it fit with the harshness and cruelty of the society where the story took place. I loved the idea of using insects in all aspects of daily life - it makes sense that they would be the only "domesticated animals" able to survive on a barely habitable world like Umayma. Some of the science (especially the "magical" abilities of magicians and shifters) probably wouldn't hold up to careful scrutiny, but that's what suspension of disbelief is for.

I'm no expert on Islam, but the author's portrayal of how religion provides comfort and meaning but is also a source of irrational violence rang true for me. And it was fascinating to imagine how a Muslim society would change if it were run by women. Some authors would use that as an excuse to indulge in girl-power fantasies about how everything would be better if only men would get out of the way, but Kameron Hurley provides a much more complicated vision of both faith and gender.

I noticed some reviewers had trouble sympathizing with Nyx, the main character. I'm not sure what this says about me, but I loved her. She's found that she has an incredible talent for one thing - killing people - and being a bel dame allows her to express that talent in a socially-approved manner. Everything else in Nyx's life is a total mess: money, family, friends, romance. . .it seemed credible to me that being a skilled assassin wouldn't necessarily equip her to deal with any of those other issues. It was painful to see the consequences of Nyx's mistakes, both for her and for those around her, but I loved that the story didn't hold back from exploring how violence poisons everyone it touches. So many stories push their characters to the brink of catastrophe and then shoe-horn the plot into a happy ending that feels false. Without giving anything away, I can say that God's War definitely avoided that trap.

The one weakness I saw in God's War was that the actual plot got a bit lost under all the world- and character-building. The world and the characters were awesome, though, so I'm more than willing to overlook that. Don't read this book if you want a mindless thrill ride full of guns and butt-kicking, but please do read it if you're in the mood to think hard about science, faith, gender, and the ways we use all of them for both good and ill.

What made the experience of listening to God’s War the most enjoyable?

The number of characters and the relations between them were superbly done. This writer knows what they're doing, and was able to bring together a host of themes that recurred in characters, setting, and plot and in an wholly engaging manner.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to say. Nyx was a great character of course, but the author did a good job of letting us see a lot of depth in the other characters, especially the team: Anneke, Khos, Inaya, Rhys... There were some nice connections to Nyx's enemies as well - not your stereotypical completely evil baddies in this story.

What does Emily Bauer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emily Bauer did excellent work changing her voice for different characters. I'd say in conversations Bauer really shined. I could truly hear the character. There were some times I felt she forced the poignant or soul-searching moments a bit too much, hence the 4-star not 5, but other than that, great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Hmm... I'm not sure I would say there was one moment, rather it was the piling up of subtle themes interlaced in each scene that moved me. Especially when it came to the consideration of war and how war affects us, the scenes in which we experience the war affecting these characters but also the moments that bring them to recall the aftereffects of war-related incidents.

What made the experience of listening to God’s War the most enjoyable?

This was written the moment I finished the book.A book to let your imagination get rich, I enjoyed seeing so much in my head, the people and their rooms and clothes. what is in there hands. I can loose myself in my imagination in so many ways. What characters I would want to be, fear or root for. I enjoyed the nature of the outer world and the craziness of it. I like to be challenged in a way simular to Magic Realism, gone Cyber to "Bug Punk". (Not my phase, I picked this out of a few other reviews)How it would feel to look up at that sky. The writing is like Fate sitting a the spinning wheel as we are given info bits to make the world real, and really different. The technology is ironic, viscus and intriguing. A bit spooky and lots often tension. The martal arts or battles are great with plenty surprises for example a gun that isn't a primitive throwback, nor high tech weap. that shoots a round at near light speeds. Ha, you'll have to wait and see.And much more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard to choose so far

What does Emily Bauer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'll get back to you on that, She did very well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I wrote this the moment I finished the book, way past my bedtime...urg

Any additional comments?

I avoid stereotyping people like the plauge, I don't care for labling groups of people. We are what we are. Even if we are trying to be complementary. Calling Smurfs blue, is it really nessary? Other than in a police lineup?

This book has some fresh perspectives on women, war (particularly holy war), and technology. I enjoyed it, and look forward to finishing the series.NOTE: The person who referred this book to me said it was good, but awfully violent, and I have seen that in some reviews. I didn't think it was particularly violent in comparison to other books in the genre. Sadly, our real holy wars are probably more violent.

I love audio books - I've listened to over 400 books with Audible. Some books take some time to get into. Some books have a slow start. I suffered through the first half-hour of this book before I gave up on it. The beginning is slow and difficult to understand because the author does not give you much framework to place the story in. It then goes on to introduce new people, with assumed ideas and odd references. I kept thinking "whaattt??".

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